Qian Renxue!

"Wait, stand right there!!!"

Xu Nian'an's voice was brimming with panic, even cracking slightly at the edges.

He had originally assumed that beneath the other man's bathrobe lay a magnificent sight.

He hadn't expected... he hadn't expected—holy crap, his eyes were tainted. What the hell.

Xu Nian'an felt nothing but regret in his heart.

Wait, no, that shouldn't be right.

Douluo Calendar, year 2625.

Although the Child of Destiny, a certain "Three," hadn't been born yet, and the Clear Sky Sect had yet to go into seclusion, the continent was in the Warring States period—but it was close enough.

According to the plot, he was roughly six years older than that certain "Three," while Qian Renxue should be about nine or ten years older than him.

Furthermore, Long Xiaoyao had already said that among the people Xue Qinghe brought this time, there were two Title Douluo.

Didn't that implicitly mean that Xue Qinghe was Qian Renxue?

One had to know that the current Heaven Dou Empire didn't have any Title Douluo, let alone two of them appearing at once.

Xu Nian'an's face turned deathly pale, as if he had just experienced something terrifying.

Damn it, he had almost lost his virtue.

Who could have guessed that the current Xue Qinghe wasn't Qian Renxue, but the real Xue Qinghe?

This was... truly agonizing.

The timeline, the various micro-expressions, the evidence—everything pointed to Xue Qinghe being Qian Renxue. And now, he was being told that Xue Qinghe was actually the male Xue Qinghe.

Damn it all to hell!

Xu Nian'an, stark naked, bolted out of the bathroom.

He didn't want to stay in that room for even a second longer.

Behind him, Xue Qinghe stood with a look of utter confusion.

"Hey, cousin, your bathrobe, your bathrobe!!!"

A moment later, the bare-skinned Xu Nian'an ran out in front of the many palace maids.

Clatter!

Seeing Xu Nian'an emerge naked, the palace maids of the Great Ming Kingdom knelt in a massive wave. Only one maid, dressed in Heaven Dou attire, looked around in a daze, unsure of what to do.

Before she could decide whether to kneel or not, Xu Nian'an ducked behind her.

"Cousin, be obedient, be good, put on the bathrobe, or you'll... you'll catch a cold!"

Xue Qinghe chased after him.

"You... you... don't you come over here!"

"Stand right there, don't you dare come any closer!"

Xu Nian'an's face was filled with terror as the two began to circle around the palace maid.

Xu Nian'an was fast. With the enhancement of his 100,000-year first soul ring, his physical fitness seemed far superior to that of Xue Qinghe, who had lived deep in the palace and was only a teenager with a soul power level in the teens.

In any case, no matter how hard Xue Qinghe tried to catch him, he couldn't.

Looking at the maid who had followed from the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe sighed helplessly.

"Forget it. Xiao Xue, go help my cousin put it on."

Seeing the two stop, the maid breathed a sigh of relief and took the bathrobe.

Her eyes, somewhat dazed, met Xu Nian'an's panicked gaze.

Hoo, hoo, hoo...

"Finally stopped."

Seeing the other party stop, Xu Nian'an began to pant slightly. Holy crap, he had almost been assaulted by a French-style black rod.

It was a good thing he ran fast.

As he calmed down, Xu Nian'an's eyes darted around, landing on the maid who was dressing him.

A blonde, closed-eyed little loli with a face full of collagen—if she had twin tails... where would the Great Ming Palace find such a little loli?

They were all mature, older sisters.

Wait... something felt wrong.

Just now, Xue Qinghe called her "Xiao Xue"... According to the timeline, Qian Renxue should be lurking by Xue Qinghe's side right now; otherwise, Snake Spear Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo couldn't be following him.

Since Xue Qinghe hadn't been replaced by Qian Renxue yet, then Qian Renxue must be lurking by his side—for instance... this maid!!!

As the threat of the French-style black rod receded, Xu Nian'an's intelligence reclaimed the high ground in his mind.

After the maid, whom Xue Qinghe called Xiao Xue, finished dressing him in the bathrobe, Xu Nian'an reached out and gripped her chin.

"Wuwuwu... Your Highness, no... please don't."

Hearing Xiao Xue's exclamation from behind, Xue Qinghe turned his head in confusion.

"What is this..."

"Cousin, my apologies. My palace maid is a bit clumsy; I shall take her back and discipline her properly."

Seeing that Xiao Xue seemed to have had a conflict with Xu Nian'an, Xue Qinghe stepped forward immediately to protect her.

Xu Nian'an narrowed his eyes at the sight.

It seemed this palace maid was very important to Xue Qinghe.

"It is nothing. I was just admiring how all the palace maids by my cousin's side are so young and beautiful. It makes this cousin of yours quite envious."

Releasing her chin, Xu Nian'an looked at her once more.

"How about you stay by This Prince's side?"

The childishness was gone from Xu Nian'an's voice, his eyes and expression filled with complete seriousness.

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes at this.

His cousin liked Xiao Xue. If he could use Xiao Xue to secure the full support of a vassal king... it would be a guaranteed profit.

Xue Qinghe smiled and spoke slowly.

"Xiao Xue is a top-tier maid in my palace. For you to ask for her the moment you open your mouth, isn't that a bit..."

Xu Nian'an looked away from Xue Qinghe.

Since he knew the other party was not Qian Renxue, his enthusiasm naturally waned.

"Rest assured, This Prince will not let you suffer a loss, nor will I let this maid of yours suffer."

"If she stays by This Prince's side, I shall grant her the title of consort!"

The condition Xu Nian'an offered was, for a palace maid, an absolute chance to fly up the branch and become a phoenix.

In truth, even now, Xu Nian'an was still testing her.

If this maid named Xiao Xue was not Qian Renxue, Xu Nian'an could simply retract the offer of making her a consort, using excuses like not wanting to take what others love to back out.

But if this Xiao Xue was truly Qian Renxue in disguise, she would definitely... refuse Xu Nian'an's request.

Xu Nian'an stared intently at Xiao Xue.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

"Very well, why not?"

Before Xiao Xue could speak, Xue Qinghe's voice rang out first.

To him, Xiao Xue was merely a palace maid he favored.

Giving her to Xu Nian'an to win over a kingdom with strong military power was worth it.

Upon hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Xiao Xue's face turned pale.

Thump!

She knelt directly before Xue Qinghe, saying nothing, her eyes slightly reddened.

"Cousin, rather than your gift, I would prefer to hear the opinion of this... Xiao Xue."

Receiving a signal, Xiao Xue spoke.

"Xiao Xue still wishes to remain by the Eldest Prince's side, to serve him faithfully!"

Hearing this, Xu Nian'an's pupils constricted sharply.

Her identity could basically be confirmed; this Xiao Xue was indeed Qian Renxue. At this point in time, she was still focused on learning the gestures, words, and actions of Xue Qinghe.

This period of study would last about a year, which meant his cousin was not long for this world.

"I like this maid very much. I hope you won't blame her when you return, Cousin. Regarding the succession of the Heaven Dou Empire, I will certainly support you."

In front of Qian Renxue, Xu Nian'an began to pledge his support to Xue Qinghe, indicating that he could be treated as a confidant from now on, ready to strike wherever he was pointed.

Of course, these were all verbal promises; whether they would hold any weight remained to be seen.

A week later.

Xue Qinghe completed his mission and prepared to return.

"Cousin, I truly like this maid of yours. I hope that next time I go to Heaven Dou, you can do some work to persuade her. Although my East Sea is remote, our strength is absolute."

Xue Qinghe patted his shoulder.

"Rest assured, next time you come to Heaven Dou, Cousin will definitely arrange everything for you."

After the carriage procession drove out of the palace, the smile on Xu Nian's face faded slightly.

"Finally, they've left."

Now, he only had to wait for the Heaven Dou Empire to make its move.

"Report—!!!! A hundred-mile urgent dispatch!"

"Your subject, Xu Yi, has followed Your Majesty's decree to build high walls and store grain extensively, all to withstand the future invasions of the Galloping Wolf Kingdom and the Star Luo Empire!"

Douluo Calendar, year 25... June 7th.

The Heaven Dou Empire announced to the entire continent that Xu Nian'an, King of the Great Ming Kingdom in the East Sea, was enfeoffed as the Ming King!

At the same time, all territories of the Great Ming Kingdom were incorporated into the Heaven Dou Empire's map, achieving an unprecedentedly vast expanse of territory!

Ming King Hall.

Looking at the imperial edict in his hand, Xu Nian'an tossed it onto the floor and stepped on it.

"Pass down this King's order!"

"March south, to the Galloping Wolf Kingdom!!!"

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